Auckerman leaves drug task force

The Brown County Drug and Major Crimes Task Force is looking for a new leader.
Commander Joe Auckerman returned to South Carolina at the end of September as part of a mutual family decision to return home. Auckerman came from South Carolina where we was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to take the job last April.
“It was a personal decision for him to leave,” said Brown County Prosecutor Zac Corbin.
Brown County Sheriff Gordon Ellis said that he hoped to have the position filled in four weeks or less.
“We are now accepting resumes for the position. There will be a board that will screen those resumes that will include myself, Prosecutor Zac Corbin and a police chief within the county,” Ellis said.
The police chief that will be assisting in the selection process will be Chief Fred Hampton. He is one of seven area chiefs that expressed a desire to assist in the selection process.
The chiefs will occupy the third seat on the selection board on a rotating basis.
The other chiefs on the committee are Chief Chad Essert from Fayetteville, Chief David Wallace from Lake Waynoka, Asst. Chief Matt Staggs from Georgetown, Chief Matt Wertz from Russellville, Chief Rob Freeland from Georgetown, Lieutenant Randy McElfresh from the Ohio Highway Patrol and Capt. Patrick Olvey from Higginsport.
“Once a candidate is recommended, it will go to the full governing board of the Brown County chiefs for approval,” Ellis said.
In the meantime, the sheriff’s office will help out task force members as needed.
“If there is an operational question or they need additional support, the sheriff’s office will provide that support or we will reach out to the chief of that jurisdiction for support,” Ellis said.
Both Corbin and Ellis expressed appreciation and gratitude to Auckerman for his work with the task force.